Billy Bingham

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William ("Billy") Laurence Bingham (born 5 August 1931 in Belfast) is a former footballer and football manager. He managed his national team, Northern Ireland, in two separate periods.

[edit] Playing career

Billy Bingham played football for:

In his playing career, Bingham was a small elusive right winger who provided fine deliveries from the flank. Among his dribbling skills, he would 'pretend' to stumble whilst in control of the ball, a trick which would often throw his opponents off balance.^{[citation needed]}

Bingham joined Sunderland in 1950 for £8,000 making 227 appearances and scoring 47 goals before his departure^{[citation needed]} in 1958 for Luton Town where he played in the 1959 FA Cup final. At the start of the 1960-61 season after Luton's relegation, he joined Everton for a fee of £15,000.^{[citation needed]} During his time at Everton, he made 98 appearances and scored 26 goals.^{[citation needed]} Bingham left Everton after being in the 1963 Championship winning team and joined Port Vale. He retired from playing after breaking his leg in 1964.

He was a Northern Ireland international and played for his country in the World Cup finals 1958. He was awarded 56 full caps.

[edit] Management career

Bingham took over as manager in May 1973 at Everton and finished seventh in his first season. He brought in players such as Martin Dobson and Bob Latchford. Everton seemed likely to win the title again in 1975, but only won once in the last five games finishing fourth. In 1975-76 Everton finished eleventh but a run of eight league games without a win resulted in Bingham being sacked in January 1977.

Bingham managed Northern Ireland in two spells. He led them to the World Cup finals 1982 and World Cup finals 1986.

Bingham caused controversy by allegedly conducting the crowd in renditions of Loyalist songs 'Billy Boys' and 'The Sash' when the Republic of Ireland travelled to Windsor Park for a World Cup qualifier in 1993.^{[citation needed]} Bingham claimed at the time that his only intention was to get the crowd behind the team, not to provoke sectarian hatred.^{[citation needed]} The Republic's manager Jack Charlton refused to shake hands with Bingham after the match.^{[citation needed]}

Preceded by Bertie Peacock	Northern Ireland manager 1967 - 1971	Succeeded by Terry Neill
Preceded by Danny Blanchflower	Northern Ireland manager 1980 - 1994	Succeeded by Bryan Hamilton

	Northern Ireland squad - 1958 FIFA World Cup
1 Gregg \| 2 Cunningham \| 3 McMichael \| 4 Blanchflower \| 5 Keith \| 6 Peacock \| 7 Bingham \| 8 Cush \| 9 Simpson \| 10 McIlroy \| 11 McParland \| 12 Uprichard \| 13 Casey \| 14 Scott \| 15 McCrory \| 16 Dougan \| 17 Coyle \| 18 Rea \| 19 Graham \| 20 Chapman \| 21 Hamill \| 22 Trainor \| Coach: Doherty

	Northern Ireland squad - 1982 FIFA World Cup
1 Jennings \| 2 J. Nicholl \| 3 Donaghy \| 4 McCreery \| 5 C. Nicholl \| 6 J. O'Neill \| 7 Brotherston \| 8 M. O'Neill \| 9 Armstrong \| 10 McIlroy \| 11 Hamilton \| 12 McClelland \| 13 Nelson \| 14 Cassidy \| 15 Finney \| 16 Whiteside \| 17 Platt \| 18 Jameson \| 19 Healy \| 20 Cleary \| 21 Campbell \| 22 Dunlop \| Coach: Bingham

	Northern Ireland squad - 1986 FIFA World Cup
1 Jennings \| 2 Nicholl \| 3 Donaghy \| 4 O'Neill \| 5 McDonald \| 6 McCreery \| 7 Penney \| 8 McIlroy \| 9 Quinn \| 10 Whiteside \| 11 Stewart \| 12 Platt \| 13 Hughes \| 14 Armstrong \| 15 Worthington \| 16 Ramsey \| 17 Clarke \| 18 McClelland \| 19 Hamilton \| 20 McNally \| 21 Campbell \| 22 Caughey \| Coach: Bingham